Golf: Irish Open a bit of Doddle

Stephen Dodd, bidding for his second win of the season, birdied the last for a one-stroke lead after the second round of the Irish Open yesterday.

A two-under 70 gave Dodd a five-under total of 139, one in front of fellow Britons David Howell, Nick Dougherty and Bradley Dredge and Pelle Edberg of Sweden on a day of gusting wind and squalls at the County Kildare layout designed by Colin Montgomerie.

Dodd won the Asian Open at the end of last year, the first event of the season on the European Tour, and was also pipped by world number three Ernie Els for the Dubai Desert Classic title in early March.

The 38-year-old Welshman, in his 15th year as a professional, is proving a late developer.

"It's been a great six months," Dodd said. "If you win a tournament it gives you belief you can win again, and that's what has happened to me over the last six months."

Dougherty, like Dodd a winner in early season when the 22-year-old Englishman won the Singapore Masters, returned a 72.

Dredge went one better than fellow Welshman Dodd by birdying his last two holes to shoot a 68, the joint lowest round of the day. Course architect Montgomerie (73) trails Dodd by five strokes, while Padraig Harrington (72) and Darren Clarke (75) are six adrift. Clarke was in trouble after running up two back-nine double-bogeys but rallied to eagle the par-five 18th with a stunning five-iron approach to five feet.

New Zealanders Michael Campbell and Stephen Scahill missed the cut by a solitary stroke. Campbell, a winner of the tournament in 2003, added a disappointing three-over 75 to his opening round of 74.

The world No 87 hit four bogeys in succession from the 10th hole. He sought to regroup with birdies at the 15th and 18th holes but eventually fell short by a shot. The effort ended a bright four-tournament run for the 36-year-old Wellingtonian: 12th in the TCL Classic, third in the Johnnie Walker Classic, 46th in the BMW Asian Open and then fourth in the British Masters after leading.

- NZPA